Each donation of five food items qualifies as a chance to win a 2014 Ford Fiesta.

The car winner will be announced at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 1, at McDonald's, 2610 W. Court St., Janesville.

JANESVILLE—ECHO in December gave out 116,934 pounds of food to help 2,043 people in need.

The local faith-sponsored charity plans to help that many people with food orders again in January even though food donations slow after the holidays, said Jessica Schafer-Locher, ECHO client advocate/officer manager.

In an effort to help fill the shelves, ECHO in December kicked off new Win A Car fundraiser that continues through Thursday, Jan. 30. It will end with a Saturday, Feb. 1, car giveaway.

People can enter by dropping off five nonperishable food items at McDonald's restaurant, 2610 W. Court St., Janesville, or at Gordie Boucher Ford Lincoln, 2727 E. Highway 14, Janesville. Those who donate will be entered for a chance to win a new 2014 Ford Fiesta donated by Trippco Management and the Guy Bucciferro family of Beloit, owners of the McDonald's on West Court Street.

“You can bring in multiple five items for more chances to win,” Schafer-Locher said.

The compact Ford is valued at $17,935.

The goal is to have 50 people bring in five items per day to collect more than 11,000 food items for ECHO's food pantry in 45 days, Schafer-Locher said.

“It's awesome to have this drive bringing in the food,” she said. “And we're just very grateful to Trippco Management and Gordie Boucher for thinking of ECHO.”